“One of the things I looked for first was chocolate girls because I feel it’s so necessary for my niece … she has to see more chocolate women” — Kelly Rowland

During a recent interview with ESSENCE, singer, songwriter, mommy and soon to be mogul said she’s in the beginning stages of launching a makeup line for women of color, starting with lashes and expanding from there.

“My makeup artist Sheika Dailey and I are actually starting a makeup line. We’re starting off with lashes and then we’re going to have it grow for all women. But definitely making sure we have our chocolate girls covered,” she said. “Gotta get the chocolate girls in there! We have to have that, you know. I think Iman has done a beautiful makeup line and I want to do it too.”

But makeup isn’t the only thing on the Grammy Award winning artist’s plate though. She’s gearing up for the April 5th premiere of her new BET show, Chasing Destiny which will chronicle her journey to find the next major girl group while coming into her own as a music mogul and boss.

While speaking at a SXSW panel for the upcoming show, Kelly discussed the fact that there needs to be more roles and opportunities for dark-skinned women. She also discussed the importance of having dark skin role models.

“One of the things I looked for first was chocolate girls because I feel it’s so necessary for my niece … she has to see more chocolate women,” Rowland told an audience.

The 35-year-old entertainer said she was inspired by darker-skinned women in the entertainment industry, such as Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson, and by U.S. first lady Michelle Obama today. “No disrespect for lighter women, but we have to see all colors,” Rowland said. “I want to be part of a change in that.”

Rowland was responding to a question from an audience member who asked her views on the equating of whiteness with beauty.

We couldn’t agree with Kelly more and we have no doubt her makeup line would sell like hot cakes. We all know there’s forever a shortage of foundation shades for women of color so Kelly throwing her name into the quest to fill in the gap is music to our ears.